Having the Internet in your pocket can pick your pocket if you are not smarter than your smartphone. Photo by Kei!/Flickr

Many cell phone service providers have announced plans to do away with unlimited data plans in lieu of tiered plans, which are tailored more toward individual usage and which could result in a high price for a smart phone. Some in the blogosphere are outraged, believing that the tiered plans will cost them more. Some experts, however, are standing up for the tiered system. But no matter what the case, there are many things you can do to save money and still carry the Internet in your pocket.

Standing up for tiered pricing

Technology blogger Anson Alex believes that a tiered data plan can be economically more sensible than an unlimited plan. In his opinion, unlimited plans are “equivalent to paying a fixed fee for electricity every month regardless of the amount of electricity you’re actually using.”

Alex went on to defend the tiered system of billing.

“By offering unlimited plans, cell phones companies overcharge the average user while undercharging the power users that, because of their excessive use of mobile data bandwidth, end up driving the cost of data usage up for everyone. With the new, limited, plans those power users will have to pay a fee that much more closely reflects the amount of data they’re actually using. If they pay more, those who don’t use much data at all, pay less.”

Data congestion on a high price for a smart phone

Data congestion is also a problem, especially for those who live in large cities. Impossibly long download times and signal drops are among the most common complaints of smart phone users. This week, to combat bandwidth congestion, Verizon announced it will cut back delivery speed to its top 5 percent of 3G users. AT&T plans a similar move in October, according to PCWorld.

Compression and data tracking

Onavo, a new startup, is offering an app that will give customers a way to monitor their data use without paying extra. Armed with that information, making a data plan choice becomes much clearer. The app also compresses files, allowing a lot more traffic from a limited data plan. The company claims it can double or even triple your smartphone experience. Those claims remain to be seen but are certainly intriguing.

Tips for savings

1. Here are some simple tips to use to immediately cut costs on data plans. They come from Catherine New of Daily Finance.
2. Download apps from your home computer, never from your phone. That will save data usage fees.
3. Don’t use the “push” setting for emails. Set mail to manual settings instead. That will stop your phone from constantly roaming in search of mail and burning up bandwidth.
4. Type m instead of www at the beginning of website URLs. This will route you to the more streamlined “mobile” version of the site, designed for smartphone use.
5. Use Onavo or a similar app to compress data from apps that are running and to track data usage.
6. Don’t watch steaming video on your phone. Nothing burns data faster. And those movies look so much better on your larger monitor at home.

Sources

Daily Finance
Aloha Social Media Management
Anson Alex

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To trick consumers into paying more for less, food manufacturers have made an art form of a smaller food package in unnoticeable ways. Image: CC pawpaw67/Flickr

If you feel like you are getting less for you money, it might be because your food package is smaller, not just because food costs more. During the economic downturn, food manufacturers have been quietly shrinking food packaging. As the rate of food inflation has been accelerating, so has the rate of food package shrinkage. As shoppers start to notice they are paying more for less, the spin from food manufacturers is that smaller food packaging is good for the environment and more convenient for consumers.

The incredible shrinking food package

Shrinking food packaging isn’t a recent phenomenon. When unemployment is high and wages are stagnant, companies can’t overtly raise prices to pad profits. In recessions over the last 20 years, food manufacturers have hidden price increases by subtly reducing the quantity of the product. During the latest recession, food packaging began to noticeably shrink in the summer of 2008. As unemployment has remained high for years, food packaging continues to get smaller. The recent emergence of food inflation has led to higher prices, as well as smaller packages. Rising prices for energy and commodities such as corn, cotton and sugar are expected to continue, and consumers can expect to pay even more to get even less in the future.

The spin on shrinking food packaging

Food manufacturers figured out long ago that consumers notice rising prices more than shrinking quantities. Marketing departments have made an art form of shrinking food packaging in unnoticeable ways. The height and width of a box may stay the same, but the depth will be reduced so that the package looks unchanged on the shelf. Glass jars will have larger indentations in the bottom to reduce volume. Chips and other salted snacks will be filled with more air and less product. But as food packaging continues to shrink, companies are resorting to clever positioning as the reduction in quantity becomes impossible to hide. According to the New York Times, Procter & Gamble has branded smaller, more expensive products as “Future Friendly” because they use less energy, water and packaging. Tropicana reduced the size of its orange juice container with an “easy-pour lid”, which the company said retained the value of the product with added features.

A Food Package Smaller with Grocery budgets and unit cost

Food manufacturers bet most consumers don’t read labels in detail. According to the Times, a can of Chicken of the Sea albacore tuna now holds five ounces instead of six and costs more. Bags of Doritos, Tostitos and Fritos contain 20 percent less product than in 2009. The best way for consumers to protect themselves is to quit tossing things in the shopping cart without looking. They should pay close attention to the price panels on the shelf that list the unit cost, or price per ounce. Consumers can also accurately gauge how much they’re getting gouged by saving grocery receipts over several months. Most grocery receipts show the quantity of items along with the price. By comparing a receipt from March with one a month later, the true impact of shrinking food packaging on a grocery budget becomes crystal clear.

Sources

New York Times

USA Today

TIME

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One saved is one earned when you stay on budget. Photo by stevendepolo/Flickr

To stay on budget is harder every day. The economic crisis affects most of us every day as we tighten our belts and keep our wallets in check. But like a dieter craving sweets, temptation is always there to consume beyond our means. Thankfully, there are simple things you can do when the cravings get to be too much.

Think ahead

Thinking long term can help. Instead of seeing savings and frugality as a chore, think big picture. You and your family will be happier if you aren’t overextending to pay off last month’s splurge.

Realistic frugality begins with a realistic plan. If a budget is too restrictive, it adds stress to your life. That constant pressure may lead to abandoning the budget altogether. Make your plan realistic, but not a “starvation diet.”

Include some fun

While a budget must begin with month-to-month obligations and essentials — mortgage, groceries, car insurance, utilities — it should also include some “fun money.” If you enjoy sports, make sure to include some greens fees or club dues. If concerts or theater are your thing, figure in a ticket every couple of months.

Another way to achieve this is to keep a “fun fund,” which is reserved only for a specific goal. Instead of giving in to every impulse, focus on the really satisfying ones and put a little away toward it out of every paycheck. Maybe there is a trip you want to take, or one luxury item that you truly want. With a little patience and persistence, it can be yours.

Ways to cut corners and stay on budget

For the day-to-day items, there are many things you can do to cut corners. Here are just a few suggestions to get the ball rolling.

Most beauty schools and community colleges offer cut-rate haircuts and beauty services, as students need opportunities to practice their craft. While that may sound risky, rest assured most places only let advanced students touch the paying customers.

Second-hand and thrift stores are a wonderful resource for items we use every day. Flea markets, garage sales and Craigslist are good, too. Somebody once said one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Go explore. You never know what you might find for a song.

Fuel expenses are one of the worst drains on our resources these days. Try public transportation, carpooling and consolidating trips. Remember, the less you are behind the wheel, the less you are spending.

Tell yourself ‘Wait’

The best thing you can do to stay frugal and on budget is tell yourself to wait. We see something on television, online or in a store and think we just have to have it. Tell yourself, “Wait.” How many times have we given in to that urge, only to see the item gather dust or wind up in the next garage sale? Chances are it is a whim brought on by budget fatigue, and the burning desire will go away. If the feeling persists, then maybe it is something worth saving for in your “fun fund.”

Sources

Walletpop
The Frisky
Retire by 40

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Don’t stand in line, people. Go online at dmv.ca.gov! (Photo Credit: CC BY-SA/Zoom Zoom/Flickr)

There are few things in life as monotonous and frustrating as waiting in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Yet the most unlikely of heroes – dmv.ca.gov – has stepped forward with a sanity-preserving service, reports the Modesto Bee. Driving records are now available online.

Don’t stand in line, go online at dmv.ca.gov

Bureaucracy is self-perpetuating, so let staying home and logging on to dmv.ca.gov for driving records online be your small way of refusing to feed the line monster. According to a recent California Department of Motor Vehicles news release, secure access to a driver’s record is now just a few clicks away. It’s easy to create an account at dmv.ca.gov, and once users are in the system with username and password, they can purchase copies of records via a secure debit transaction. In addition, drivers can access additional services such as scheduling appointments for written and driving tests, registering vehicles, renewing drivers licenses, choosing personalized license plates and address changes.

As one might suspect, California DMV Director George Valverde told the Modesto Bee that online driving record requests are most commonly sought at dmv.ca.gov. Additional information on new online services is available at www.dmv.ca.gov and 800-777-0133.

California DMV news roundup

Considering that the State of California is in the middle of a serious budget crisis, it comes as no surprise that parking enforcement has gone into overdrive. However, Sacramento parking enforcement has crossed the line into ridiculousness, reports the Sacramento Bee. Now parking enforcement vehicles patrol the streets of the state capital in the middle of the night, with extended hours as late as 2 a.m. in high-complaint areas.

Waiting on your license? Blame the DMV backlog

New services at dmv.ca.gov appear to have come just in time, as worker furloughs and a DMV backlog has made the performance of basic tasks more time-intensive than ever. Reports are that new California drivers may have to wait as long as a month before receiving a new license. But that’s still an improvement, as the wait was twice as long recently.

Sources

Modesto Bee

Sacramento Bee

DMV.ca.gov also makes totally boss videos!

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Before you fall into charity fraud, make sure you know where your money is going. Photo by Howard Lake/Flickr.

Many people would like to give more to charity; giving to a worthy cause or a person in need is among the noblest of deeds. However, rampant charity fraud and corruption among non-profit organizations make it difficult to know who or what organization is worth giving to.

Americans are charitable people

According to MSNBC, around $291 billion was donated to charity in 2010. Though it was 6 percent less than charitable donations in 2007, it was still a 4 percent rise over 2009. The bulk of it, $211.1 billion, was by individuals.

13 percent of charity revenue goes to charity fraud

Fraud and embezzlement scandals have emerged among charities and nonprofits. Fraud, according to the New York Times, was estimated in a 2008 study to have cost U.S. charities about $40 billion in 2006. The study, by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, also estimated roughly 13 percent of all charities’ revenues are lost to fraud per year.

Backhanded balance sheets

The study also found that 95 percent of the fraud was “loss of cash” and most of it was due to invoice fraud. Charity fraud most often involves a bill being over-inflated and once it’s paid, the perpetrator pockets the proceeds. Most of the time, the fraud is internal. In essence, a charity is most likely to be defrauded by its own accounting staff.

However, the 2010 version of that same survey, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, estimated losses due to fraud at 9.6 percent, so the number of incidents may be declining.

Do a background check before you give

In another type of charity fraud, a group of scam artists pose as a charitable organization precisely because they know people will give money. Natural disaster relief, cancer scams, police and firefighter causes and “Supporting the Troops” are popular targets.

According to the Huffington Post, the American Institute of Philanthropy found in its annual survey this year that about half of the 39 charitable organizations devoted to veterans causes spent more on “operating expenses” than on anything related to helping veterans.

Natural disasters create the need for money for disaster relief. Scam artists then swoop like vultures on fresh roadkill. In March, according to WKYC, an NBC affiliate in Cleveland, Ohio, the FBI issued warning of Japan earthquake relief scams. The FBI and the Better Business Bureau also noticed a growing number of Mississippi flood relief scams in May, according to Daily Finance.

Check out all soliciting companies

According to the Federal Trade Commission, always ask for more information from and check out any charitable organization asking for a donation. Be wary of charities related to firefighters, police or military personnel that aren’t well known and seem very new. The same goes with disaster charities.

Sources

MSNBC

New York Times

Chronicle of Philanthropy

Huffington Post

WKYC

Daily Finance

Federal Trade Commission

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Hotels are now charging a minibar restocking fee in addition to charging for the items in the minibar. Image: Flickr / James Fraleigh / CC-BY-SA

The hotel industry is one that most of us patronize only occasionally, especially when you find the hidden hotel fees. For many travelers, the proliferation of new hotel fees are proving very surprising. Here are the most common new fees and how to avoid them.

An extra $800 million in fees

The hotel industry, in 2001, generated about $1 billion in add-on fees and services that were, at one point, included with the cost of a room. In 2011, that figure is expected to clock in a record profit of $1.8 billion. This additional $800 million is expected to come from fees for early cancellations, housekeeping, room-service gratuities, even holding luggage or re-stocking the minibar.

Where new fees are appearing

The new fees at many hotels are showing up in two places: for things and for services the hotel provides. Some of the things you might start to see fees for:

• Extra towels in your room or at the pool
• Toiletries – of any kind or additional
• The safe in your room, whether you use it or not
• Newspapers delivered to your room, or even at the front desk

Many new fees are appearing, automatically added for your bill, for services. These include services that traditionally garner tips, such as:

• Housekeeping gratuity
• Bartender or service gratuity
• Restocking the in-room minibar
• Holding baggage at the front desk after check-out
• Cancellation of your reservation, up to three days before the stay

Protect yourself from the fees

Unlike the airline industry, hotels are not required to publish all “add-on fees” or final prices on their websites or in advertising. Instead, much of the final cost of a hotel may not appear until the final bill is handed to you at the front desk. Try calling the hotel directly before making a reservation and asking about final cost. Also try researching travelers websites. Request to pre-pay your bill when you check in, and carefully look over every line item before signing off on the charges.

Sources

CNN Money
LA Times
Fox Business

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Applying for a loan by phone is as easy as 1-2-3. (Thinkstock)

Applying for a loan by phone is perhaps the fastest, most convenient way of borrowing money. You don’t have to drive anywhere or visit multiple lenders just to get a helping hand. Sites like Personal Money Market are here to help you through your cash needs the fastest, easiest way possible.

A loan by phone can get you money fast

You can access quick funding using your iPhone, smartphone or any other wireless device. Call the toll-free number located in the top left corner of the page and a loan application specialist will help get you started right away. Or better yet, jump online and complete the application yourself. It takes just a few short minutes to fill out, and we’ll get right to work the moment you hit “submit.”

Personal Money Market has built a vast network of some of the most reputable direct payday lenders online whose number one goal is to fund your need as quickly as possible. Most of the lenders require no credit check or faxing of any documents, and you get a quick response every time.

Benefits of applying for a loan by phone

• Apply from anywhere at any time
• Same-day loan approvals
• Typically no faxing and no credit check
• Loans of up to $1,500
• Funds are directly deposited into your bank account

What you need to qualify

1. Must be 18 years old to apply
2. A legal U.S. citizen
3. Currently employed
4. Make at least $1,000 per month
5. Have a bank account for quick money transfer

Fast and reliable, every time

The ability to apply for a loan by phone has many advantages. Small money problems can quickly add up if not dealt with quickly. And when you’re on the go and unforeseen money troubles head your way, they can be extremely difficult to dodge. Fortunately, with these loans, you can avoid the hassles and get back on track, no matter where you are or what you’re doing.

Apply today for a loan by phone | Start HERE

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The Story of Bottled Water, a short film released by Anne Leonard on World Water Day, intends to put a dent in bottled water sales. Flickr photo.

The Story of Bottled water is a short film by Anne Leonard. In The story of Bottled Water, Leonard shows how corporations have convinced Americans to spend extra cash on half a billion bottles of water every week though most people in this country can get it for free. “Purified” bottled water has become a $5 billion-a-year industry in the U.S. and ironically threatens public health and the environment.

World Water Day

In an article on huffingtonpost.com, Anne Leonard said she chose World Water Day to release the Story of Bottled Water because World Water Day is:

“a good day to pause and consider the insanity of a global economy where 1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water while other people spend billions on a bottled product that’s no cleaner, harms people and the environment and costs up to 2,000 times the price of tap water.”

In The Story of Bottled Water, Leonard compares spending money on bottled water to buying a shrink-wrapped sandwich made by unknown hands costing $10,000. She blames multi-billion dollar marketing campaigns commissioned by industrial giants like Coca Cola and Pepsi and Nestle to make Americans afraid to drink tap water.

Toxic chemicals in bottled water

The Story of Bottled Water points out that while people may think they are drinking purified water, it is often no safer than the water coming from the tap. It could also be less safe. Toxic chemicals from the plastic in the bottle can leach into the water inside. A report on mindfully.org states that Water bottles are made from various plastics, including Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical that leaches into the water in the bottles to some degree. Bisphenal-A, it turns out, is a hormone disruptor that mimics estrogen and is linked to early onset puberty, declining sperm counts, obesity and breast and prostate cancer. In March 2007 a billion-dollar class action suit was filed in Los Angeles against five leading manufacturers of baby bottles containing Bisphenal-A.

Filter water at home

Leonard says that bottled water costs up to 2,000 times more than tap water, yet up to 40 percent of bottled water is simply filtered tap water. Consumers can filter water at home with products costing anywhere from $15 to $120. The Story of Bottled Water lists many other facts about bottled water that Leonard calls “inconvenient truths:

• Bottled water is subject to fewer health regulations than tap water.
• Municipalities often need money loans to cover more than the $70 million it costs to landfill water bottles alone each year, according to Corporate Accountability International.
• Making the plastic water bottles used in the U.S. takes enough oil and energy to fuel a million cars, not including the fuel required to transport the bottles from the factory.

Use metal water bottles

The Story of Bottled Water does see a bright side it its argument, however. Leonard says that fewer people spend money now on bottled water — sales fell slightly in 2009 for the first time ever. More consumers choose to filter water at home, pass on bottled water at the store and carry reusable metal water bottles. Steel or aluminum water bottles cost anywhere from $5.95 to $19.95. Sure beats a $10,000 sandwich.

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Credit Unions Do Not Offer Short Term Loans. Photo by Sean/Flickr.

Short term loans and similar money loans have been a thorn in the side of banks and credit unions who have sought to gain a foothold as direct lenders in the short term credit market. Payday lenders have addressed the consumer need for quick cash with aplomb, making successful entry into the market perhaps more difficult for traditional financial institutions. As a recent study by UC David Ph. D. Victor Stango entitled “Are Credit Unions Viable Providers of Short-Term Credit” suggests some of the reasons why credit unions (and by extension, even traditional big banks) aren’t mounting any serious completion for payday lenders.

Short term loans just as expensive at credit unions – or even pricier

Stango points out that there simply isn’t a preponderance of evidence proving that short term loans are a viable product for credit unions. To be competitive and hence profitable for a credit union, short term loans must be priced lower than that of payday lenders. In addition, requirements and terms must be attractive to consumers. Having low cost but being riddled with red tape won’t work, and if the price is too high, consumers will look elsewhere.

Fees within fees at credit unions

Of the 7,749 credit unions covered in Stango’s study, only six percent even attempted to offer short term loans to the public. That’s 479 credit unions. Of those, the initial short term loan APR was generally lower than those of most payday lenders surveyed, but not so much that it made a great deal of difference. However, many of the credit unions with lower loan APRs actually had additional loan origination fees that made the cost difference either negligible or tipped it in favor of the payday lenders.

Why did only six percent of credit unions offer short term loans?

The vast majority of credit unions contacted by Stango’s assistant actually refused to explain why they do not offer short term loans. The few who were willing to go on record claimed short term loans were either “too risky” (too many delinquencies), there was “insufficient demand” (which seems unlikely, considering the wide market for short term loans from payday lenders) or “interest rates are too high” (perhaps creating a lack of demand, at least for short term loans with traditional financial organizations).

Federal credit unions are shackled by federal law

Federal credit unions can charge a maximum of 18 percent APR on a loan, which means that for every $100 loans, that would be an interest charge of $1.50 per month. Even if every customer repaid their short term loans on time, that simply isn’t enough to make the product viable for credit unions. Some credit unions have proven able to get around that cap and raise the bar to 36 percent APR, but in almost every case, additional fees are necessary for them to even break even with short term loans, Stango discovered.

Strict standards

In addition to the problems of cost, most credit unions in Stango’s study require that borrowers be members of the credit union for at least 60 to 90 days. Also, if the customer has made any late payments on other loans or filed bankruptcy, they are generally found to be ineligible for short term loans before taking a payday loan. For all of the reasons stated here from Stango’s study, short term loans are simply not a viable product. Payday lenders can provide short term loans and other forms of money loans at somewhat lower cost and with much less administrative hassle.

Source:

“Are Credit Unions Viable Providers of Short-Term Credit?”

Related Video:

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New reports on retail sales and consumer confidence present conflicting data until one reads between the lines. Image: CC Svadifari/Flickr

Retail sales and consumer confidence are key economic indicators closely watched by economists and investors. People often assume retail sales and consumer confidence would rise and fall in tandem. But separate reports released show strong retail sales trend followed by declining consumer confidence.

Retail sales surge

Retail sales in the U.S. increased at a greater rate  than in any year since 1999, according to the Commerce Department. From 2009 to 2010, U.S. retail sales increased 6.8 percent, the strongest growth since an 8.2 percent surge in 1999. December retail sales rose for the sixth month in a row, increasing 0.6 percent to $380.9 billion after rising 0.8 percent in November. Despite the holiday shopping season, December’s gain was less than expected, largely due to harsh winter weather. Department store sales dropped 1.9 percent, the steepest decline in two years. But online sales rose 2.6 percent month-over-month to ensure an overall monthly gain.

Consumer confidence a fickle index

Despite the strong retail sales trend, consumer confidence in January declined unexpectedly. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer confidence index for January fell to 72.7 from 74.5 in December. A Bloomberg News survey of economists predicted a bump in the consumer confidence index to 75.5. Analysts are saying rising gas and energy prices, combined with the snail’s pace of job creation are to blame. Unemployment fell to 9.4 percent in December, but at the present rate of economic growth, the labor market will take years to recover. Higher gas prices increased sales at gas stations 1.6 percent last month. Energy prices rose 4.6 percent in December.

Data bode well for consumer spending

Consumer confidence has dropped so far this month, but economists say the consumer expectations index is a more accurate economic indicator. The consumer expectations index looks at how people feel about what their finances will look like six months down the road. The Commerce Department reports that it increased to 68.2, the highest mark since last June. The strengthening consumer expectations index bodes well for consumer spending, the lion’s share of U.S. economic output. Although recent reports offer conflicting information, the trend in retail sales appears strong enough to drive economic recovery, if not employment.

Sources

Bloomberg

Financial Times

Wall Street Journal

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The wealth gap between rich and poor Americans is growing, but people don’t want mansions handed to them. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

The growing wealth gap in America is a disturbing trend. The wealthiest of Americans are getting wealthier, and the gap is wider than most people realize. With conditions like these, it’s no wonder people are running for payday loans.

Wealth gap is astounding

The gap between the wealth held by the richest 20 percent and the rest of the nation is growing, and it’s significantly larger than a lot of people realize. According to the Los Angeles Times, recent data indicates that the richest 20 percent of Americans hold about 85 percent of the wealth. The poorest 40 percent hold close to zero, and the middle 40 percent have between 14 and 15 percent to split between them. That’s not a lot of payday cash to go around for the 80 percent of the nation. It was also found that most Americans did not realize it was that wide a gap. The study that delved into these issues, done by Edward Wolff of New York University, also revealed that Americans, both liberal and conservative, want the gap to narrow but are mostly opposed to a mandated redistribution.

Americans prefer to work for it

If the study done by Wolff is correct, the typical attitude of Americans is that they do not want anything given to them, but instead want more available opportunities to get ahead. It gets harder to have an opportunity to get ahead if things like credit cards and other debts get in the way. People making their way in the world is difficult indeed if most of a persons’ proceeds from pay day end up going toward debt. Because the costs of so many things — such as college education and medical care — are skyrocketing, it’s no wonder so many people are rushing out for a cash advance or a payday loans.

Obstacles are many

Achieving the American Dream is getting harder for a lot of people. Working life away to pay debt is not something most people envision, but it is something people are encouraged to get into. You can read more in Payday Loan Facts and Statistics Report on Personal Money Market.

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Get installment loans for bad credit today for your immediate cash needs. Don’t worry about your less-than-stellar credit – you are not required to have a perfect credit history to get approved for our short term cash loans. Bad credit becomes a thing of the past when you apply here for the cash you need now.

Why installment loans for bad credit are the best option

Installment loans for bad credit provide just that – bad credit loans. They are designed for people in need of money now but are retrained from the help they need because of bad or poor credit.

Of course, having a good credit score comes with many advantages. But once that image is even slightly tarnished, perhaps because of reasons beyond your control, which is generally the case with this economy, you are no longer allowed the same privileges. Most money lenders, corporate or private, become particularly cautious when comes to dealing with people with bad credit. People suffering from bad credit are given a much harder time, even when getting some of the simplest luxuries in life. However, thankfully, there are still a good number of payday loan lenders who care little about your past credit history and offer up the very help you need in no time.

The convenience of our bad credit loans online

When you need money now, there is really no time to waste. In order to avoid more penalties and damage to your credit, you have to think of a plan – fast. Installment loans for bad credit can help. Don’t risk anymore damage to your credit and get the help you need now. Like no fax payday loans, this type of bad credit loan is available online; it’s the perfect time-saving option for your immediate cash needs!

Let us help you break free from bad credit

The loan application takes an average 2.5 minutes to complete. Plus, you get an answer within seconds after submitting the form. You generally won’t need to fax in any paperwork or provide reasons on why you need the loan. You won’t be turned away because of bad credit, or treated any differently because of it, either. You get the help you need, when you need it, regardless of your credit history, right here with installment loans for bad credit. So what are you waiting for? Apply today and get your life back on track in no time.

Start your bad credit installment loan application HERE!

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Fixodent is very useful with dentures, but might have some shocking side effects. Photo by Kathy McGraw/Flickr.

Dentures usually require a denture cream to attach to an individual’s gums, and Fixodent is a popular product for that. An ABC News investigation has led to a Fixodent lawsuit. The lawsuit is based on the allegation that Fixodent could be poisoning customers. The secondary allegation is that the company knew and did not warn customers.

Damage to nerves can happen with fixodent

In 2006, researchers at the University of Texas found a connection between denture creams and zinc poisoning. Zinc poisoning can cause loss of sensation, muscle weakness, paralysis and numbness. When people use Fixodent, the zinc in sits all day against the gums, and the bloodstream ends up with zinc in it. This makes it harder for the body to absorb copper. After the University of Texas submitted the study nothing more was done so that a peer review could be conducted.

Dr. Kenneth Shay named in Fixodent lawsuit

The Fixodent lawsuit states that Dr. Kenneth Shay is partly to blame for the fact that nothing was done after the study found Fixodent was dangerous. Dr. Shay was given a copy of the study linking Fixodent and zinc poisoning in 2007. As a paid consultant of Procter & Gamble, the doctor didn’t share this information. Dr. Shay did not properly review and return the study, and he reportedly passed the unpublished study findings over to Procter & Gamble, the makers of Fixodent.

Warnings of zinc poisoning

Zinc is found in both Fixodent and Super Poly Grip. In 2008, when the study linking paralysis and denture cream was published, the makers did put a small warning on the box. The Fixodent lawsuit, however, claims that the company was aware of these risks long before the study was published and did not do nearly enough to protect customers or reformulate the product. The amount of zinc in the denture cream isn’t usually dangerous. Only large amounts are dangerous to use.

Information from

NY Times

NCBI

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Mortgage rates are rising, despite demand for and sales of houses still at rock bottom. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Nationwide mortgage rates are creeping up despite dismal sales and demand. Interest rates on major mortgage products have been rising steadily for the past few months, though the rates are still near record lows. The real estate industry is still embroiled in a quagmire involving foreclosures, and demand is nearing an all time low.

Cheap housing cannot stimulate much demand

Even some of the cheapest real estate on record cannot seem to boost sales. Recent housing data revealed new home sales and existing home sales fell during February. Interest rates on mortgage rates are climbing since hitting near-record lows in the fall of 2010, according to USA Today. The nationwide average rate on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages reached 4.81 percent on Thursday, March 24, an increase of 0.05 percent in a week. The average 15-year, fixed mortgage hit 4.04 percent. In November of 2010, the 30-year fixed was at 4.17 percent, and the 15-year fixed reached 3.97 percent, the lowest rates in decades.

Legal quagmire still ongoing concerning foreclosures

The legal dilemma regarding possibly fraudulent foreclosures initiated by rubber stamped paperwork, or “robo-signing,” is still far from a resolution. Major mortgage lenders practically handed out same day loans, rushing foreclosure paperwork without doing the due diligence. A major investigation was launched into the matter that involves all 50 state attorneys general and various federal agencies. Banks and mortgage lenders involved in the scandal are still struggling to secure a settlement with the states and the federal government, and some government agencies are looking to create their own settlement to bypass the process, according to Reuters.

Lousy outlook for real estate mortgage rates

Once the matter is settled, a flood of foreclosures will begin; thousands of pending foreclosures have been stalled because of the crisis. Evicting thousands of people will likely boost the payday loans industry as former homeowners scramble for cash to cover moving expenses. The foreclosure crisis is expected to cost the banking industry tens of billions, according to Fortune, regardless of any government settlements or fines. Anyone who can get access to the credit to purchase a home will benefit from doing so sooner rather than later. Demand and sales are very low, and fewer new homes are being built. The foreclosure mess has only made things worse, and the housing industry isn’t going to recover until prospective buyers are able to purchase homes again.

Sources

USA Today

Reuters

Fortune

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There are several things you can do to have fun on a budget this summer.

If you’re looking to have fun on a budget this summer, but are burdened by a miniscule budget, consider what your community has to offer. A little creativity and a community activity guide can lead you to free fun in no time. Here are some ideas about how to have family fun without spending any (or much) money.

Mining your community for gems

It’s easy to plop down major coin on entertainment. Food, activities and monthly memberships are fabulous fun, but not if you’re left with too little money to pay the bills. City tourism bureaus and chambers of commerce are great places to find out about fun, free summer activities that will enable you to still save money.

Community swimming pools

For little or no money, a community swimming pool is a great place to keep cool. Prices range from free to just a few dollars per visit, depending upon where you live. For frequent swimmers, season passes can translate into significant savings.

Join the YMCA or YWCA

Top-of-the-line gym facilities, swimming pools and childcare are available at most local YMCA/YWCA facilities. Family rates can make the monthly expense much more affordable; they are weighted on a sliding scale depending upon your household income.

Free events at the community center

From art and exercise classes to dances and potlucks, local community centers offer many events that are free or minimally expensive. Community centers are a great place to meet people, too.

Go for a run in the park

Put on some running shoes and hit a safe neighborhood park. Enjoy sunshine, fresh air and exercise. You’ll feel better and won’t spend a dime. During summer, many communities offer free concerts, plays and art festivals in large public parks. Look online for a community events calendar!

Unleash your imagination at the library

A good book is a window into another world. Checking out books movies in DVD and Blu-Ray format, music CDs and, in some areas, vinyl and cassettes, is free at the library.

Enjoy a free museum or gallery ride

Once or twice per month, most public museums feature a free admission day. Contact your local museum to see when you should go. Expect the free day to fall mid-week when visitor traffic is low.

Back in your own backyard for Fun on a Budget

Have you ever tried camping in your backyard? This can be a fun activity, particularly if you have young children. Watch squirrels scamper and listen to the summer chorus of crickets and cicadas when the sun goes down.

If you have a table or a flat patio, board games can also be fun on lazy summer days. If you don’t have board or card games, scan the “free” column in Craigslist, or watch local garage sales.

If the gaming fun spins on, break out the lantern for nighttime fun!

Real fun at no cost: Supermarket twist-tie art

Sources

For Dummies

One Girl’s Quest

Trent’s Blog

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Is the cost of student loans worth it? Photo by Paul Stainthorp/Flickr

The past few months have featured a lot of coverage about the booming levels of student loans. Unlike other installment loans, there’s no way to discharge the debt, and many students are left holding the bag with fewer opportunities for decent employment. Many are questioning whether college is worth it.

College not worth student loans, says wide swaths of media

One may notice that similar columns appear on various news and opinion sites bearing a headline implying “College is not worth it” and some that assert the opposite. Billionaire Peter Thiel controversially offered anyone willing to drop out of or forgo college a personal loan from him of $100,000 to start a business. One of the people who took Thiel’s offer wrote a column for CNN stating college wasn’t worth it because it stifled entrepreneurial innovation. The author of a recent column on the Reuters website, John Wasik, contends that because tuition has risen 467 percent since 1986 whileinflation rose 106 percent, the cost of college may not be worth it because real wages are not keeping pace with inflation.

College pays off, but for whom?

College, though, does pay off for some people. In fact, the student loans pay particularly well for some people. The government, according to the Wall Street Journal, makes more money on student loans that are defaulted on than on loans that are paid religiously. Current estimates are that 85 percent of all defaulted students loans will end up being collected. Not only that, but the government expects to collect up to $1.22 on every dollar of student loans that are outstanding and in default. Credit card companies, by comparison, usually make about 10 percent of all defaulted debts back. The reason is that defaulting on student loans is different from other kinds of loans. The typical personal loan from a bank can be discharged in bankruptcy, and a house or car can be repossessed.

Average experience says college worth it

Going by the numbers, there appears to be a real incentive to attending a four-year institution and emerging with a bachelor’s degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the college educated have an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent as of May of 2011. Those with only a high school diploma have an unemployment rate of 9.5 percent. According to the U.S. Census, men with a high school diploma or equivalency in 2009 earned on average $36,332 and women earned $22,868. Men with a bachelor’s degree earned, on average, $70,568 and women with a bachelor’s earned $42,128 on average, per year.

Sources

CNN

Reuters

Wall Street Journal

Bureau of Labor Statistics on Unemployment

Census page on income (requires Microsoft Excel to download tables)

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What to do before you’re 30.

What should you know about finances before a certain time? There really is no answer to that, but here are three things to do before you’re 30. If you haven’t done these yet, don’t worry it’s never too late to start.

Stay out of debt

This is possibly the most complicated piece of advice out there. Consumer debt is essentially any debt that does not have a chance of appreciating in value. Generally, credit cards of any kind are considered consumer debt. Debt that is likely to pay back on the investment may be justifiable, but debt to pay for a want instead of a need is likely not justifiable. Especially if you have no way to pay off consumer debt immediately, you should simply not give in to the temptation. This can be as basic as living within your means. In your 20s, when you are not making much money, this can be especially difficult, but it will pay off in the end. If you have fallen behind, get caught up before you’re 30.

Save money is one thing to do before you’re 30

It’s tough to live within your means when you are not making much money, but you should try and save at least something. This could be as little as $5 per week, or as much as maxing out your 401(k). You should do your best to save at least something, because whatever you save in your 20s will pay off major returns as you get older because it will sit in your chosen savings accounts for much longer than other investments might. Your savings accounts can also help prevent you getting into consumer debt when you have emergency expenses that you may not be able to otherwise pay for.

Take a year off of school

Going from elementary school to high school to college to post-secondary school to an advanced degree can mean decades of schooling and huge mounds of student loan debt. Not taking at least a year off of school to rest your brain, think about what you want to do in life, and whether the advanced degree you are considering is worth it can end up costing you a ton of money. Try an internship or a year working in the “grunt job” portion of your chosen profession. Many colleges will even help you identify these in-work experiences and give you a year-long leave of absence, if you request one. That year off can help re-acquaint you with the person you have become and help you decide whether the additional debt you are about to take on is really worth it.

Sources

Moolanomy
MSN Money
Kiplinger

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New research suggests that, as people age, they may lose those ‘spider senses’ that once alerted them to be wary of scams. Image: LizzyGrafik/Flickr/CC BY-SA

Popular wisdom would have us believe that seniors are more susceptible to falling for scams because of diminished brain activity, coupled with an accumulation of assets. However, new research suggests that as people age, they may lose those “spider senses,” or gut feelings, that alert people to situations in which they should raise their guard.

Are seniors more vulnerable to scams?

An estimated $2.9 billion was bilked from American seniors in 2010 alone, according to the MetLife Mature Market Institute. What makes the elderly more vulnerable to this kind of crime? Shelly Taylor, a professor of psychology at the University of California Los Angeles, was inspired to pursue her research when her father, in his seventies, was conned out of $17,000 by homeless swindlers.

Taylor conducted an early test in which 119 people between the ages of 55 and 84 all looked at the same photographs of 30 faces, rating them on how trustworthy they looked.

While young and old alike found so-called “neutral” faces trustworthy, the responses differed greatly on those faces with visual clues to their shady character. Younger participants were much quicker to pick up on these differences.

“[The elderly subjects] missed facial cues that are pretty easily distinguished,” Taylor said. “Is something going on the brain that would explain this pattern?”

Perhaps.

Consider the anterior insula scams

In a follow-up study, Taylor and her team hooked 23 people, aged 55 to 80, and 21 younger ones, whose ages averaged 33, up to functional magnetic resonance imaging equipment. The fMRI tracks brain activity in real time. These subjects again studied pictures of faces and ranked them by how trustworthy they looked.

Taylor and her team found that younger adults were using a part of the brain called the anterior insula, especially when studying those features commonly considered to be signs of untrustworthiness. This part of the brain did not light up nearly as often for the elderly subjects.

The anterior insula is seemingly the seat of gut hunches that tells us to when we should look out. And it becomes less active as people age. This directly contradicts the popular notion that seniors, raised in a simpler time, are naturally more trusting. The phenomenon, Taylor said, is not tied to any specific generation and will hold true for “Boomers and Gen Xers.”

“Their brains are not saying ‘be wary,’ as the brains of the younger adults are,” Taylor said of the older subjects. “A diminished ‘gut’ response to cues of untrustworthiness may partially underlie older adults’ vulnerability to fraud.”

Sources

Daily Mail
Huffington Post
First Coast News

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Tighter budgets and complex rules are making it harder for the Internal Revenue Service to effectively do its job. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

The Internal Revenue Service has few fans but serves an essential function. Currently, budget cuts and other issues at the agency are costing taxpayers.

Budget cuts causing issues

Few federal agencies are as maligned as the Internal Revenue Service. Joe or Jane Taxpayer may think that trimming the IRS budget is a blessing. However, there are consequences of making it harder for the IRS to do its job.

According to the Washington Post, the operating budget for the Internal Revenue Service for this year is $11.8 billion, $1.5 billion less than what was requested by the president and $300 million less than last year.

Ninety-two percent of the IRS budget, according to Forbes, is for labor. Budget cuts mean fewer people to answer questions or review tax returns. Staffing to take phone calls has even declined; according to CNN, the annual National Taxpayer Advocate report found that between 2004 and 2010, the percentage of phone calls the IRS was able to answer dropped by 17 percent. The agency also took six weeks on average to respond to letters or faxes.

[Getting short term loans for bad credit can be faster than getting a tax refund]

Errors of automation

The IRS has to increasingly rely on automation to process tax returns. Nina Olson, the National Taxpayer Advocate, found in her annual report to Congress that IRS computers have detected more errors in recent years, according to CNN, flagging 4 million returns in 2006 for mathematical errors compared to 10.6 million in 2010. However, not every return the IRS flagged was actually wrong. For instance, 300,000 returns were flagged in 2010 for errors on the dependent children exemption. The IRS reversed 55 percent of those holds.

Nina Olson also found, according to Forbes, that of the 1.05 million tax refunds held by the IRS for potential fraud by the Accounts Management Taxpayer Assurance Program or AMTAP, that the IRS couldn’t verify anything was wrong with 11 percent of the held refunds. Furthermore, of the 21,000 people who complained, 75 percent were eligible for their claimed refunds and waited a further six months on average to receive it.

Olson also found that of the 429,108 returns flagged under AMTAP’s “Operation Mass Mail” fraud deterrence program, which sets allegedly phony tax returns aside without processing them, 34,053 were legitimate.

More loopholes means more chasing fraud

As more tax breaks are offered, the more fraud artists try to take advantage. In the first six months of the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit’s existence, according to the Wall Street Journal, 19,000 people tried to claim the credit without having bought a home. A further 74,000 had previously purchased homes, and 500 people under the age of 18 claimed the credit, one of whom was 4 years old.

According to the Washington Post, tax fraud cases at the IRS increased by 72 percent from 2010 to 2011. The tax code itself, a nightmare to navigate, has undergone 4,430 changes from 2001 to 2010, including 579 in 2010 alone. The agency simply lacks the resources to keep up.

Sources

Washington Post

CNN

Forbes

Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/janetnovack/2012/01/11/irs-advocate-new-taxpayer-rights-crisis-is-brewing/

Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703574604574501253942115922.html

Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/irs-tight-budget-hurting-taxpayers-watchdog-says/2012/01/10/gIQAXVXwqP_story.html

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Smart Phone and Tablet use are on the rise, and so is shopping from them. Photo by mikecogh/Flickr

More American’s than ever have a smart phone or tablet, and they are quickly replacing the common laptop and desktop. With this comes more shopping from the smartphones than ever. With new technology comes new ways to be wise with your money. There are still several ways to save money while using your smartphone.

Standing up for tiered pricing

Technology blogger Anson Alex believes that a tiered data plan can be economically more sensible than an unlimited plan. In his opinion, unlimited plans are “equivalent to paying a fixed fee for electricity every month regardless of the amount of electricity you’re actually using.”

Alex went on to defend the tiered system of billing.

“By offering unlimited plans, cell phones companies overcharge the average user while undercharging the power users that, because of their excessive use of mobile data bandwidth, end up driving the cost of data usage up for everyone. With the new, limited, plans those power users will have to pay a fee that much more closely reflects the amount of data they’re actually using. If they pay more, those who don’t use much data at all, pay less.”

Data congestion

Data congestion is also a problem, especially for those who live in large cities. Impossibly long download times and signal drops are among the most common complaints of smart phone users. This week, to combat bandwidth congestion, Verizon announced it will cut back delivery speed to its top 5 percent of 3G users. AT&T plans a similar move in October, according to PCWorld.

Compression and data tracking

Onavo, a new startup, is offering an app that will give customers a way to monitor their data use without paying extra. Armed with that information, making a data plan choice becomes much clearer. The app also compresses files, allowing a lot more traffic from a limited data plan. The company claims it can double or even triple your smartphone experience. Those claims remain to be seen but are certainly intriguing.

Tips for savings with a smart phone

Here are some simple tips to use to immediately cut costs on data plans. They come from Catherine New of Daily Finance.

1. Download apps from your home computer, never from your phone. That will save data usage fees.

2. Don’t use the “push” setting for emails. Set mail to manual settings instead. That will stop your phone from constantly roaming in search of mail and burning up bandwidth.

3. Type m instead of www at the beginning of website URLs. This will route you to the more streamlined “mobile” version of the site, designed for smartphone use.

4. Use Onavo or a similar app to compress data from apps that are running and to track data usage.

5. Don’t watch steaming video on your phone. Nothing burns data faster. And those movies look so much better on your larger monitor at home.

Sources

Daily Finance
Aloha Social Media Management
Anson Alex

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